Swords, Ireland, April 26, 2017 – Kristen Actis-Grande, vice president, finance for Ingersoll Rand’s Residential HVAC and Supply business was recognized as one of 130 recipients of The Manufacturing Institute’s 2017 Women in Manufacturing STEP (Science, Technology, Engineering and Production) Ahead Award. The STEP Ahead Awards recognize women who demonstrate excellence and leadership in their careers and represent all levels of manufacturing, from the factory-floor to the C-suite.

Actis-Grande leads the financial operations for Ingersoll Rand’s Residential HVAC & Supply business, which includes leading brands such as Trane, American Standard, Ameristar and Nexia. As one of the youngest female vice presidents, she embodies Ingersoll Rand’s culture of continuous improvement that drives growth, creates value, fosters employee engagement and enhances quality to make the customer experience better.

Rooted in the belief that finance professionals must deliver insights that drive performance, a concept she has tested over time, Actis-Grande had been instrumental in influencing changes from product design and availability to marketing strategy that has impacted nearly every aspect of the business.

“Kristen is a role model for leadership at Ingersoll Rand and serves as an inspiration to young women considering careers in the science, technology, engineering and math fields,” said Gary Michel, senior vice president and president Residential HVAC & Supply, Ingersoll Rand. “Her ability to inspire others and engage them in aspects of STEM through manufacturing makes her a great ambassador for our industry. We are proud to recognize Kristen as a 2017 STEP Ahead Award honoree, and we congratulate all of the outstanding women recognized this year.”

The STEP Awards are part of the larger STEP Ahead initiative, launched to examine and promote the role of women in the manufacturing industry through recognition, research, and leadership for attracting, advancing, and retaining strong female talent.

A recent survey from Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute found that 80 percent of American manufacturing companies have a moderate to severe shortage of available, qualified workers. Contributing to this gap is the underrepresentation of women in the industry. While women make up approximately 50 percent of the labor force, that number is only about 30 percent in the manufacturing labor force.

On April 20, winners of the STEP Ahead Award were recognized at a reception in Washington, D.C., where each honoree’s story was highlighted, including their leadership and accomplishments in manufacturing as well as their roles in the community.